Alpha Omega

14052014

“’I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’” – Revelation 1:8

The phone was ringing. My son picked it up and gave a shout. We all stared at the caller ID in disbelief. Identifying the caller, the screen read, “Alpha Omega.” “What if it’s Jesus?” one of the boys asked. “Don’t you think we better answer it? It would be bad not to answer when Jesus calls,” the other one replied. We answered, listened to a spiel about carpet cleaning, and hung up laughing. We should have known that heaven probably doesn’t have a local area code.

While I am rolling my eyes at the carpet cleaning company, I am thankful for the conversation their phone call ignited in my family. How do we recognize when Jesus calls? Do we answer, put Him on hold, or ignore the call?

I have never met anyone who received an actual phone call from Jesus, but Jesus calls to us all the time. He speaks through His Word, answers quiet prayers, and sings with us in worship as we approach God’s throne. We can hear His voice in nature, in the gentle words of a friend, and in the tug of the Spirit as we face needs, difficulties, joys, and beauty. The question is whether or not I am paying attention.

My Jesus Resolutiontoday is to answer when Jesus calls. Jesus calls for my eyes to focus on Him. He calls for my ears to be attuned to His voice. He calls for my feet to follow where He leads. He calls for my soul to be surrendered and my heart to be thankful. Too often, if I am honest, I miss His call. Busyness, struggles, and inattention put up barriers to experiencing His presence. I long for today to be different. I want to notice. I want to answer. I want to engage in the conversation He wants to share with me today. The Alpha and the Omega wants to talk to you. Will you answer?